Talk:Fries, Virginia

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Google search for "Fries VA pronounced" shows ample evidence that the pronunciation is "freeze". The anon IP address range that has reverted this in the past has been a known source of vandalism to other articles. -- Curps 02:32, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

Having family in this town, it is definately pronounced "freeze".

[edit] History of Fries

This small town was originally founded around a cotton mill, run by Washington Weaving. The town was named for Col. Fries. Washington Weaving went bankrupt approximately 1979. The successor to the mill was Regal Textiles. Regal gave up the site due to "foreign" competition in the 1980's. Around the early 1980's the railroad trestle crossing route 94 was dismantled. The cotton mill is being demolished and is nearly gone as of the summer of 2005. The town is currently the beginning of the New River Trail park, which is the route of the old train line into this little country town.

Originally, the homes and businesses of this town were owned by Washington Weaving. I remember as a small child hearing of the "company store", which was an outlet in the block of shops on Main Street. The town still has a YMCA, which still operates the swimming pool, and several small shops. Many of the residents have family ties to the area dating back several generations.